Revolution presents 2012 team awards

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Lee Nguyen was voted the 2012 New England Revolution Team MVP, as announced by the team in a pregame ceremony prior to tonight’s regular-season home finale against the Chicago Fire at Gillette Stadium. Center back Stephen McCarthy was also honored with the Best Defender award, while Matt Reis was recognized as the team’s humanitarian of the year.

The MVP award was determined by a fan vote, while the defensive award was voted on by the team’s beat media.

Nguyen, 26, made an immediate impact on the Revs in his first MLS season. The former Indiana University product currently sits second on the team in scoring with five goals and two assists. Before undergoing season ending surgery on his right shoulder in September, Nguyen was the only Revolution player to appear in all 30 games to that point. He also earned MLS Player of the Week honors in May for a two goal, one-assist performance against Vancouver – the team which originally signed him last December before waiving him one week before the season started.

McCarthy, 24, is in his second season with the Revolution, but his first as a defender after transitioning from the central midfield this preseason under new head coach Jay Heaps. Entering tonight, McCarthy has appeared in 28 games at center back, while also recording one assist. Standing 6-foot-5, McCarthy has been a towering presence along the Revs’ backline this season that has posted stark improvements from last year’s squad.

In 2012, Matt Reis, 37, escalated his career-long commitment to community involvement. In addition to planning and hosting the 2nd-annual Matt Reis Charity Golf Challenge, which raised almost $50,000 for Boston Children’s Hospital and the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, he also worked with Community Servings, a meal-prep/delivery service for the homebound. After volunteering in the charity’s kitchen, he also donated a family meal of Shutout Pasta and garlic bread – made and served from scratch – to a lucky auction winner at the primary fundraiser. He also volunteered regularly with Children’s Hospital, making both hospital visits and game day visits during the hospital’s Dream Team program at Revs games. He also regularly volunteered at charitable events hosted by Boston’s other professional athletes.